Delivery system for remote treatment of an animal

Abstract

A method of remotely treating an animal including launching a delivery system at the animal, wherein the delivery system comprises a dosage projectile adapted to deliver a biologically active agent to an animal substantially without piercing the skin of the animal and containing a biologically active agent and a transdermal carrier in liquid or gel form, wherein the agent and the carrier are encapsulated in one or more encapsulating agents, and wherein the encapsulating agents forms a frangible shell; impacting the projectile on the animal to release the biologically active agent and the transdermal carrier from the frangible shell substantially without piercing the skin of the animal; and delivering the biologically active agent to the animal, wherein the transdermal carrier facilitates passage of the biologically active agent across the skin of the animal to provide treatment to the animal.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of remotely treating an animal comprising:
 launching a delivery system at the animal, wherein the delivery system comprises a dosage projectile adapted to deliver a biologically active agent to an animal substantially without piercing the skin of the animal and containing a biologically active agent and a transdermal carrier in liquid or gel form, wherein the agent and the carrier are encapsulated in one or more encapsulating agents, and wherein the encapsulating agents forms a frangible shell; 
 impacting the projectile on the animal to release the biologically active agent and the transdermal carrier from the frangible shell substantially without piercing the skin of the animal; and 
 delivering the biologically active agent to the animal, wherein the transdermal carrier facilitates passage of the biologically active agent across the skin of the animal to provide treatment to the animal. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1  wherein the animal is a wildlife or game animal, a livestock animal, or a feral animal. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 2  wherein the wildlife or game animal is a deer or buffalo. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 2  wherein the livestock animal is a cow, pig, goats, sheep or horse. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 2  wherein the feral animal is selected from a dog, goat or pig. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1  wherein the animal is treated for parasite infection or infestation. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 1  wherein the projectile is launched with a launching device. 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 7  wherein the launching device is a gun, pressure activated launcher or gas activated launcher. 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 1  wherein the projectile delivers single or multiple biological agents or doses to the animal. 
     
     
       10. The method according to  claim 1  wherein the biologically active agent is an anthelmintic, acaricide or an anti-parasitic composition or compound. 
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 10  wherein the acaricide is an organophosphorous acaricide. 
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 1  wherein the biologically active agent is a macrocyclic lactone selected from the group consisting of ivermectin, abamectin, eprinomectin, moxidectin, selamectin, doramectin, and emamectin benzoate. 
     
     
       13. The method according to  claim 1  wherein the biologically active agent is a synthetic pyrethroid selected from the group consisting of flumethrin, deltamethrin, cypermethrin, cyfluthrin, fenvalerate, alphacypermethrin, and pyrethrin. 
     
     
       14. The method according to  claim 1  wherein the biologically active agent is an insect growth regulator selected from the group consisting of yriproxifen, methoprene, cyromazine, lufenuron, diflubenzuron, fluazuron, and dicyclanil. 
     
     
       15. The method according to  claim 1  wherein the biologically active agent is an amidine. 
     
     
       16. The method according to  claim 1  wherein the biologically active agent is selected from the group consisting of fipronil, imidacloprid, rotenone, Mg flurosilicate, piperonyl butoxide, spinosyns, benzimidazoles, and amino-acetonitrile derivatives. 
     
     
       17. The method according to  claim 1  wherein the biologically active agent is a hormone. 
     
     
       18. The method according to  claim 1  wherein the biologically active agent is an anti-infective, anaesthetic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, anti-fungal, antihistamine, antiviral, antioxyltic, β-adrenergic agonist, bronchodilator, cardioactive, CNS stimulating, cholinergic, ant-cholinergic, anti-emetic, muscle-relaxing or antimicrobial agent. 
     
     
       19. The method according to  claim 1  wherein the biologically active agent is a health supplement. 
     
     
       20. The method according to  claim 19  wherein the health supplement is a vitamin or mineral. 
     
     
       21. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the biologically active agent is a vaccine or immunogenic compound. 
     
     
       22. The method according to  claim 1  wherein the delivery system further includes one or more adjuvants. 
     
     
       23. The method according to  claim 1  wherein the transdermal carrier is selected from the group consisting of isopropyl alcohol, dipropylene glycol methyl-ether, butylated hydroxytoluene dipropylene glycol monomethyl-ether, methylene chloride; diethyl ether, ethanol, acetonitrile, ethyl acetate, benzyl alcohol and a combination of natural oils, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, dimethyl polysiloxane (DMPX), oleic acid, caprylic acid, 1-octanol, ethanol (denatured or anhydrous), liposomal compositions, plant oils, acrylic polymers, rubber-based polymers, polysiloxane-based polymers, polyvinylpyrrolidone-based polymers, dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), dimethylformamide (DMF), lecithin, bi-component vesicular aggregates, ethosomes, azone, castor oil derivatives, jojoba oil derivatives, corn oil derivatives, and emu oil derivatives. 
     
     
       24. The method according to  claim 23  wherein the transdermal carrier is selected from the group consisting of propylene glycol, DMSO, alcohol, and a penetrant adjuvant. 
     
     
       25. The method according to  claim 23  wherein the plant oil is selected from the group consisting of Aloe vera oil, sesame seed oil, and derivatives thereof. 
     
     
       26. The method according to  claim 23  wherein the castor oil derivative is ethoxylated castor oil. 
     
     
       27. The method according to  claim 1  wherein the frangible shell is made of gelatine, linear polymers, or polystyrene derivatives, thin-walled plastics materials, hydrophilic colloidal materials including gelatin, albumin, gum arabic, alginate, casein, agar or pectins, synthetic organic compounds, resinous compounds, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
       28. The method according to  claim 27  wherein the frangible shell is made gelatine. 
     
     
       29. The method according to  claim 1  wherein the delivery system further includes a marker capable of marking skin, coat or fur of the animal. 
     
     
       30. The method according to  claim 29  wherein the marker is capable of marking the animal for a period of about 1 hour to 72 hours. 
     
     
       31. The method according to  claim 30  wherein the marker marks the animal for a period of about 24 to 48 hours. 
     
     
       32. The method according to  claim 29 , wherein the marker is a cosmetic colorant, pigment, or dye. 
     
     
       33. The method according to  claim 32 , wherein the marker is a liquid dye, powder dye, water soluble dye, infra-red dye, ultraviolet dye, or a dye that glows in the dark.